Libya’s oil terminals seized by general to resume work

BENGHAZI, Libya – Libya’s state oil company says it is prepared to quickly resume crude exports from three key terminals seized this week by forces loyal to a powerful general.

Mustafa Sanaallah, top executive of the Libya’s Oil Corporation, said on Wednesday that teams have begun assessing damage to the facilities in Ras Lanuf, al-Sidra and Zueitina terminals.

The terminals were taken Sunday by forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who is allied with the country’s internationally recognized parliament, based in Libya’s far east. That parliament doesn’t recognize the recently formed, U.N.-backed government, in part because of differences over Hifter’s future role.

The militia that had controlled the facilities is linked to the U.N.-backed government.

The United States and five Western nations have called on Hifter’s forces to withdraw from the three terminals.